The Warriors’ quiet snub

Let the record reflect the Golden State Warriors are moving solemnly through their latest east coast swing by focusing on how to play better basketball, getting to the arenas on time, and—when in the nation’s capital Wednesday—taking their talents and dedication to inner city kids who need their help and guidance most.

There will be no visit to the White House this time around. And there won’t be any for the foreseeable future. The Dubs, winners of two of the last three Larry O’Brien trophies and an odds-on favorite to show up in the finals this season in spite of a current half-game deficit to the talent-laden Houston Rockets, decided to skip the pomp and circumstance because of the orange elephant in the room.

The notion that the Warriors would deign to meet up with the current president, a brand so tarnished by the man himself it is easily transposable with one of his dozens of failed career shakedowns, was one that was worked through within hours of their victory last season and officially codified in September by Trump himself when he errantly tweeted that he would not invite the Warriors to visit the White House, in response to comments Stephen Curry made the day before.

The Warriors issued a statement post Trump’s tweet to clarify their stance, saying that the team had intended to meet and discuss earlier that morning whether they would accept an invitation to the White House. Golden State will play the Wizards in Washington on the last day of Black History Month and have been emphatic that they will use the trip as a platform for the players to voice their opinions and use that time to pitch in in the community.

The Warriors’ statement read: “We accept that President Trump has made it clear that we are not invited. We believe there is nothing more American that our citizens having the right to express themselves freely on matters important to them. We’re disappointed that we did not have an opportunity during this process to share our views or have open dialogue on issues impacting our communities that we felt would be important to raise. In lieu of a visit to the White House, we have decided that we’ll constructively use our trip to the nation’s capital in February to celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion—the values that we embrace as an organization.”

The team currently plans a private tour of an undisclosed location with local kids and teens, ESPN reported.

Head coach Steve Kerr is second only to his mentor Gregg Popovich in his criticism of Donald Trump and his band of open mic night, no-security-clearance having, money grabbing, pasty, slack-jawed opportunists. And, just to be clear, the Trump administration, whether the Mueller investigation fulfills the wishes of every American with a heart bigger than a coke nail or not, is an installed one—and the Warriors, a team of superstars known for their absurd lack of ego and selfishness, don’t mess with fakers who front.

“It’s their championship. They got disinvited to the White House, so it’s up to them what they wanted to do. So they made their plans,” Kerr told ESPN. “I want the players to have a good day and to do something positive and to enjoy what they’re doing.”

It’s impossible to generalize NBA stars as a cohort but for the most part, the league is comprised of gentlemen who came up from unfortunate-to-dire circumstances and through hard work, determination, and exploitation of natural gifts—they somehow made it. They fucking made it.

“You can talk about all the different personalities that have said things and done things—from Kaepernick to what happened with Michael Bennett to all sorts of examples of what has gone on in our country that has led to change,” Curry told reporters back in the fall. “We’re all trying to do what we can using our platforms, using our opportunities to shed light on that. That’s kind of where I stand on that. I don’t think us going to the White House will miraculously make everything better, but this is my opportunity to voice that.”

In exchange for his eloquence, this is what popped up on his feed the next morning.

Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!

Nobody is going to notice the Warriors not paying a visit to the eye of the storm, no blip of a photo op for a White House full of enablers, racists, sadists and the most unqualified of thieves among us. It’s a non-event and a non-starter. But other franchises (Philly for starters) should take note, this is not a normal crew and these are not normal times. They are not to be recognized nor visited. Gloss over it if you will, and say what you may about the Warriors’ front office and ownership on other game-related topics, but they did the right thing and they did it right way.